Multi-valve pump head

ABSTRACT

A pump head configured to secure various air valve types is disclosed. The pump head may include a housing and an interior unit sized and shaped to receive a valve head. A moveable pin disposed within the housing coaxially with the first axis may define a pin notch disposed about an exterior circumference of the moveable pin. A first taper unit may be disposed in the housing coaxially with the first axis and coupled to the pin return spring. A second taper unit may be disposed in the housing coaxially with the first axis and adjacent to the first taper unit. An elastic taper C-ring may be disposed between the first and second taper units. A lock arm may be configured to engage the first taper unit with the second taper unit, thereby compressing the elastic taper C-ring circumferentially in one of at least two positions, the elastic taper C-ring compressed about the pin notch in the first position and about the valve head in the second position.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patentapplication 62/942,385, filed Dec. 2, 2019, titled “Multi-Valve PumpHead,” the entirety of the disclosure of which are incorporated hereinby reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to pump head, moreparticularly to a multi-valve pump head for use with multiple air valveconfiguration.

BACKGROUND

Air chambers, such as those found in bicycle tires and other inflatabledevices, use a variety of air valves for sealing and inflating the airchamber. The most common air valves are Schrader, Presta, and Dunlopvalves for interacting with a pump designed to fill the chamber to adesired air pressure. The variety of valves in the market has created aneed for universal pump heads usable with any valve with minimalinconvenience to a user. Previous pump heads have used clamp jaws,tapered jaws, and tapered housings to clamp to and retain the air valveduring inflation. Other pump heads have utilized interchangeable partsor separate ports for connecting to the different valve types. However,these previous efforts resulted in large, bulky pump heads, inconvenientuser experiences, complex assemblies, and high costs.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure generally provides for a lightweight, compact,universal pump head for forming airtight connections with air valves.Aspects of the pump head provide a user the ability to secure and form aconnection with an air valve without extensive setup or alterations tothe pump or pump head. The system and method allow a user to quicklyconnect and disconnect the pump head to an air valve. While the presentdisclosure is discussed in regards to Schrader and Presta air valves, itwill be understood by one skilled in the art that the present disclosurewill function with other types of air valves known in the art.

According to one aspect, the present disclosure provides a pump headconfigured to secure an air valve. The pump head may include a housingand an interior unit. The pump head may also include a lock arm forsecuring the air valve. The housing may include an aperture operativelysized to receive the air valve. The interior unit is located within thehousing and may include a movable pin operatively configured to pressagainst and open the air valve while the lock arm is engaged. Themovable pin may be held against the air valve by a compressed elastictaper C-when the lock arm is engaged. A pin notch disposed on anexterior of the movable pin may be configured to receive the elastictaper C-ring when the lock arm is engaged. The elastic taper C-ring mayoperate by securing the movable pin or the air valve. The lock arm maybe disengaged to release the air valve.

According to another aspect, a pump head may include a housing and aninterior unit. The housing may include an aperture operatively sized toreceive an air valve. A grommet may be located between the aperture andthe housing. The grommet may be sized to receive a Schrader air valvewhile allowing a thinner air valve, such as a Presta air valve, to passthrough the grommet.

The interior unit is located within the housing and may include a firsttaper unit and a second taper unit. An elastic taper C-ring may belocated between the first taper unit and the second taper unit. Amoveable pin may be mounted to a return spring used to position themovable pin in a pin rest position. While in the pin rest position, theelastic taper C-ring may be disposed about an exterior of the movablepin. A guide may be positioned along an axis of the movable pin toassist the movable pin in moving within the interior unit.

A lock arm positioned on an exterior of the housing may be operativelyconfigured to press the second taper unit towards the first taper unitwhen engaged. Thereby compressing the elastic taper C-ring between thefirst taper unit and the second taper unit. The compressed elastic taperC-ring may secure the movable pin or the air valve.

The above summary has outlined, rather broadly, some features andtechnical advantages of the present disclosure in order that thedetailed description that follows may be better understood. Additionalfeatures and advantages of the disclosure will be described below. Itshould be appreciated by those skilled in the art that this disclosuremay be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing otherstructures for carrying out the same purposes of the present disclosure.It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that suchequivalent constructions do not depart from the teachings of thedisclosure as set forth in the appended claims. The novel features,which are believed to be characteristic of the disclosure, both as toits organization and method of operation, together with further objectsand advantages, will be better understood from the following descriptionwhen considered in connection with the accompanying figures. It is to beexpressly understood, however, that each of the figures is provided forthe purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended asa definition of the limits of the present disclosure.

Further, the inventors are fully informed of the standards andapplication of the special provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112, ¶ 6. Thus, theuse of the words “function,” “means” or “step” in the DetailedDescription or Description of the Drawings or claims is not intended tosomehow indicate a desire to invoke the special provisions of 35 U.S.C.§ 112, ¶ 6, to define the invention. To the contrary, if the provisionsof 35 U.S.C. § 112, ¶ 6 are sought to be invoked to define theinventions, the claims will specifically and expressly state the exactphrases “means for” or “step for”, and will also recite the word“function” (i.e., will state “means for performing the function of[insert function]”), without also reciting in such phrases anystructure, material, or acts in support of the function. Thus, even whenthe claims recite a “means for performing the function of . . . “or ”step for performing the function of . . . ,” if the claims also reciteany structure, material, or acts in support of that means or step, or toperform the recited function, it is the clear intention of the inventorsnot to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112, ¶ 6. Moreover, even ifthe provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112, ¶ 6, are invoked to define theclaimed aspects, it is intended that these aspects not be limited onlyto the specific structure, material, or acts that are described in thepreferred embodiments, but in addition, include any and all structures,material, or acts that perform the claimed function as described inalternative embodiments or forms in the disclosure, or that arewell-known present or later-developed, equivalent structures, material,or acts for performing the claimed function.

The foregoing and other aspects, features, and advantages will beapparent to those artisans of ordinary skill in the art from theDETAILED DESCRIPTION and DRAWINGS, and from the CLAIMS.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features, nature, and advantages of the present disclosure willbecome more apparent from the detailed description set forth below whentaken in conjunction with the drawings in which like referencecharacters identify correspondingly throughout.

FIG. 1 depicts a side cross section view of a pump head according to oneaspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2A depicts a side view of an interior unit of a pump head accordingto one aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2B depicts a side cross section view of the interior unit of FIG.2A.

FIG. 3 depicts a perspective view of a movable pin of a pump headaccording to one aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4A depicts a side view of a movable pin with an elastic taperC-ring according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4B depicts a front view of a movable pin with an elastic taperC-ring according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4C depicts a front view of a movable pin with a compressed elastictaper C-ring according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5A depicts a side cross section view of a pump head connected to aSchrader air valve according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5B depicts a side cross section view of a pump head connected to aPresta air valve according to one aspect of the present disclosure:

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The detailed description set forth below, in connection with theappended drawings, is intended as a description of variousconfigurations and is not intended to represent the only configurationsin which the concepts described herein may be practiced. The detaileddescription includes specific details for the purpose of providing athorough understanding of the various concepts. It will be apparent tothose skilled in the art, however, that these concepts may be practicedwithout these specific details.

FIG. 1 depicts a side cross section view of a pump head 100 according toone aspect of the present disclosure. The pump head 100 may include ahousing 102 and an interior unit 104 located within the housing 102. Thepump head 100 may also define an aperture 106 formed by the housing 102about an axis 101. A grommet 108 may be disposed between the housing 102and the aperture 106. The grommet 108 may be made of a compressiblematerial, such as rubber, and be sized and shaped to provide a sealingengagement around a valve when inserted into the pump head 100. Thegrommet 108 may be configured to help hold the pump head 100 onto thevalve and to create an air seal. If the interior diameter of the grommetis too small then may be hard for the user to place the pump head 100onto the valve easily. Even if the grommet does receive the valve, thenanother issue may arise in which it may be difficult to separate thepump head 100 from the valve when inflation is complete. On the otherhand, if the grommet 108 is too large then it will not seal properlyaround the valve when the grommet is compressed. This may cause a leakor a loose fit causing the pump head 100 to disengage the valve whentrying to inflate the tire to high pressures.

According to one aspect, the grommet 108 may include a first portion 109and a second portion 111. The first portion 109 of the grommet 108 mayhave a diameter about the same size as a Schrader-type valve. The secondportion 111 may have a diameter matching that of a Presta-type valve. AnO-ring 132 may be disposed between the interior unit 104 and the housing102 providing a movable seal between the interior unit 104 and thehousing 102. The interior unit 104 may be in fluid communication withthe aperture 106 allowing an air valve (not shown) to engage the pumphead 100.

The interior unit 104 may include a movable pin 110 defining a pin notch112 on an exterior of the movable pin 110. The movable pin 110 may becoupled to a pin return spring 114 that is biased along the axis 101 toreturn the movable pin 110 to a pin rest position when the pump head 100is not in use. An elastic taper C-ring 116 may be disposed about the pinnotch 112 when the movable pin 110 is in the pin rest position. Theelastic taper C-ring 116 may include a first elastic taper C-ring side118 and a second elastic taper C-ring side 120. A first taper unit 122may be adjacent to the first elastic taper C-ring side 118. A secondtaper unit 124 may be adjacent to the second elastic taper C-ring side120. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the first taperunit may be fixed within the housing 102 and the second taper unit maybe negatively biased away from the first taper unit, for example by awithdraw spring 130.

The second taper unit 124 may include a guide 126 operatively configuredto assist the movable pin 110 in moving within the interior unit 104.The guide 126 may be positioned along the axis 101 of the movable pin110 and coupled to the pin return spring 114. For example, when athinner air valve (not shown), such as a Presta-type air valve, ispresent in the aperture 106 the movable pin 110 may travel along theguide 126 to remain in fluid communication with the air valve (notshown) as shown in FIG. 5B. When the air valve is absent from the pumphead 100, the movable pin 110 may return to the pin rest position by thepin return spring 114.

A lock arm 128 disposed on an exterior of the housing 102 may be engagedto press the second taper unit 124 towards the first taper unit 122,against the bias of the withdraw spring 130, thereby compressing theelastic taper C-ring 116. According to one aspect, the lock arm 128 maybe pivotally coupled to the housing 102 such that when the lock arm 128is pivoted to a raised position, the lock arm 128 may press the secondtaper unit toward first taper unit. The elastic taper C-ring may becompressed in one of at least two positions, including a first positionwhereby the elastic taper C-ring is compressed about the pin notch 112or a second position whereby the elastic taper C-ring 116 is compressedabout the head of an inserted air valve (not shown), as further shown inFIGS. 5A and 5B, respectively. According to one aspect of the presentdisclosure, the first position may correspond to the insertion of aSchrader-type valve, while the second position may correspond to aPresta-type valve.

If the lock arm 128 is disengaged, i.e., pivoted to a lowered positionas shown in FIG. 1, the withdraw spring 130 may push the second taperunit 124 away from the first taper unit 122, thereby allowing theelastic taper C-ring 116 to decompress and release the movable pin 110.The movable pin 110 is thusly able to move and the air valve (not shown)may be removed from the pump head 100.

FIG. 2A depicts a side view of an interior unit 204 of a pump headaccording to one aspect of the present disclosure. FIG. 2B depicts aside cross section view of the interior unit 204 of FIG. 2A. Theinterior unit 204 may include grommet 208 disposed adjacent to anaperture 206 defined by a housing (not shown). A movable pin 210 may bein fluid connection with the aperture 206 and coupled to a pin returnspring 214. The pin return spring 214 may return the movable pin 210 toa pin rest position when the pump head is not in use. A guide 226 may bepositioned along an axis of the movable pin 210. The guide 226 may beoperatively configured to assist the movable pin 210 in moving withinthe interior unit 204. The guide 226 may be coupled to the pin returnspring 214.

A pin notch 212 may be defined about an exterior of the movable pin 210.While the movable pin 210 is in the pin rest position, an elastic taperC-ring 216 may be disposed about the pin notch 212. The elastic taperC-ring 216 includes a first elastic taper C-ring side 218 and a secondelastic taper C-ring side 220. The first elastic taper C-ring side 218may be adjacent to a first taper unit 222. The second elastic taperC-ring side 220 may be adjacent to a second taper unit 224.

FIG. 3 depicts a perspective view of a movable pin 310 of a pump headaccording to one aspect of the present disclosure. The movable pin 310may define or include a pin notch 312 about a circumference of anexterior of the movable pin 310. The movable pin 310 may further defineor include a pin head notch 338 near a head portion of the movable pin310. As described herein, the pin head notch may engage a pin or otherstructural component of a valve when inserted and coupled to the pumphead.

FIGS. 4A-4C depict an arrangement of a movable pin 410 and a C-Ring 416according to an aspect of the present disclosure. FIG. 4A depicts a sideview of a movable pin 410 with an elastic taper C-ring 416 according toone aspect of the present disclosure. The elastic taper C-ring 416 maybe disposed about a pin notch 412 while the movable pin 410 is at a pinrest position. The elastic taper C-ring 416 includes a first elastictaper C-ring side 418 and a second elastic taper C-ring side 420. FIG.4B depicts a front view of a movable pin 410 with an uncompressedelastic taper C-ring 416 about the pin notch 412 according to one aspectof the present disclosure. A first end 442A of the elastic taper C-ringand the second end 442B form a gap and are not in contact with eachother. FIG. 4C depicts a front view of a movable pin 410 with acompressed elastic taper C-ring 416 according to one aspect of thepresent disclosure. As shown in FIG. 4C, the original circumference(shown here as reference number 440) of the elastic taper C-ring 416 maybe compressed from its original shape. In a compressed state the ends442A, 442B of the C-Ring may become in contact with each other.

FIG. 5A depicts a side cross section view of a pump head 500 connectedto a Schrader-type air valve 534 according to one aspect of the presentdisclosure. The Schrader-type air valve 534 may be operatively coupledto the pump head 500 for exchanging air with an air chamber (not shown).The pump head 500 may include a housing 502 that defines an aperture506. The pump head 500 may further include a grommet 508 disposedbetween the aperture 506 and the housing 502. The grommet 508 mayinclude a first portion 509 sized and shaped to accommodate aSchrader-type valve and second portion 511 sized and shaped toaccommodate a Presta-type valve.

A lock arm 528 may be engaged to secure the pump head 500 to theSchrader-type air valve 534. The lock arm 528 may be operativelyconnected to an interior unit 504 including a first taper unit 522, asecond taper unit 524, and an elastic taper C-ring 516 therebetween, allcoaxially located along an axis 501 of the housing 502. The elastictaper C-ring 516 may include a first elastic taper C-ring side 518adjacent to the first taper unit 522 and a second elastic taper C-ringside 520 adjacent to the second taper unit 524. Raising the lock arm 528may engage the Schrader-type air valve 534 by pressing the second taperunit 524 against the bias of a withdraw spring 530 towards the firsttaper unit 522, compressing the elastic taper C-ring 516.

A movable pin 510 within the interior unit 504 is coupled to a pinreturn spring 514. A guide 526 may be positioned along an axis of themovable pin 510. The guide 526 may be operatively configured to assistthe movable pin 510 in moving within the interior unit 504. The guidemay be operatively connected to the pin return spring 514.

A pin notch 512 on the exterior of the movable pin 510 may beoperatively sized to receive the compressed elastic taper C-ring 516.The movable pin 510 may be secured in place by the compressed elastictaper C-ring 516 while the lock arm 528 is engaged. By securing themovable pin 510, the movable pin 510 may exert a force on the Schraderair valve 534. The pin head notch 538 of movable pin 510 may engage apin of the valve 534 to open the Schrader-type air valve 534 and allowan exchange of air to take place. As a result, an air chamber (notshown) may be inflated or deflated using the pump head 500.

When the lock arm 528 is disengaged, the withdraw spring 530 may allowthe second taper unit 524 to move away from the first taper unit 522.The elastic taper C-ring 516 is decompressed and the movable pin 510 isallowed to move. A pin return spring 514 may be used to return themovable pin 510 to a pin rest position.

An O-ring 532 may be disposed between the interior unit 504 and thehousing 502 to form a seal around the interior unit 504. As a result,air passes through an air-flow channel 542 and into the interior unit504 into and out of the Schrader air valve 534. The O-ring 532 mayprevent the air in the air-flow channel from escaping the pump head ator near the lock arm 528.

In operation, according to one aspect of the disclosure, the pump head500 may be fluidly connected to an air valve, such as a Schrader-typeair valve 534. The Schrader air valve 534 is inserted into the aperture506 until the Schrader air valve 534 is sealed against at least thefirst portion 509 of the grommet 508. The movable pin 510 may be biasedtowards the valve 534 such that the pin head notch 538 of movable pin510 may engage a pin of the valve 534 to open the Schrader-type airvalve 534. The lock arm 528 may be engaged, pressing the second taperunit 524 towards the first taper unit 522 and compressing the elastictaper C-ring 516 in a first position. The grommet 508 may also becompressed around the valve 534 forming a seal. The elastic taper C-ring516, disposed about the pin notch 512, may close around the movable pin510 in the pin notch 512 securing the movable pin in place. A pumpingmechanism (not shown) may cause an exchange of air to occur, inflatingor deflating an air chamber (not shown) fluidly connected to theSchrader-type air valve 534.

The lock arm 528 may be disengaged by pivoting the lock arm 528downward, for example, allowing the withdraw spring 530 to move thesecond taper unit 524 away from the first taper unit 522. The elastictaper C-ring 516 may be decompressed, releasing the movable pin 510. TheSchrader-type air valve 534 may be removed, and the movable pin 510 mayreturn to a pin rest position by the pin return spring 514.

FIG. 5B depicts a side cross section view of a pump head 500 connectedto a Presta-type air valve 536 according to one aspect of the presentdisclosure. The Presta air valve 536 may be fluidly connected to thepump head 500 for exchanging air with an air chamber (not shown). As thePresta air valve 536 is inserted into the aperture 506, the head of thePresta-type air valve 536 may engage the second portion 511 of thegrommet 508 and exert a force on the movable pin 510. A head pin of thevalve may engage or enter the pin head notch 538. The movable pin 510may travel along the guide 526 compressing the pin return spring 514while maintaining contact with the Presta-type air valve 536.

The lock arm 528 may be engaged to press the first taper unit 522against the second taper unit 524, compressing the elastic taper C-ring516 between the first taper unit 522 and the second taper unit 524 andabout the pin notch 512, and compressing the grommet 508 about thePresta-type air valve 536, where a seal is formed, securing thePresta-type air valve 536 in place. The force exerted by the Presta airvalve 536 on the movable pin 510 may open the air valve 536 to allow anexchange of air to occur.

When the lock arm 528 is disengaged, the withdraw spring 530 may allowthe second taper unit 524 to move away from the first taper unit 522.The elastic taper C-ring 516 may be decompressed and the grommet 508 maybe decompressed, allowing the Presta-type air valve 536 to be removedfrom the pump head 500.

In operation, according to one aspect of the disclosure, the pump head500 may be fluidly connected to an air valve, such as a Presta-type airvalve 536. The Presta-type air valve 536 may be inserted into theaperture 506 and through or past the grommet 508 until the head of thePresta-type air valve 536 is adjacent to the elastic taper C-ringelastic taper elastic taper C-ring 516 and the head pin of the valveengages the pin head notch 538. The movable pin 510 may move along theguide 526, compressing the pin return spring 514 and establishing aconnection with the Presta-type air valve 536. The lock arm 528 may beengaged, pressing the second taper unit 524 towards the first taper unit522, compressing the elastic taper C-ring 516 in a second position. Theelastic taper C-ring 516, disposed about the Presta-type air valve 536,closes around the Presta air valve 536. As a result, the Presta-type airvalve 536 is secured in place. An exchange of air may occur, inflatingor deflating an air chamber (not shown) fluidly connected to thePresta-type air valve 536.

The lock arm 528 may be disengaged, allowing the withdraw spring 530 tomove the second taper unit 524 away from the first taper unit 522. Theelastic taper C-ring 516 is decompressed, releasing the Presta-type airvalve 536. The Presta-type air valve 536 may be removed, and the movablepin 510 may return to the pin rest position by the pin return spring514.

One skilled in the art will appreciate that the same embodiment of thepump head may be used for multiple types of air valves, such as thosedescribed above. The pump head allows a user to form an airtightconnection simply by engaging a lock arm without a need to consider thetype of air valve being connected. As a result, a smaller, morelightweight pump head has been described in this disclosure.

Although embodiments have been described in detail for purposes ofillustration, various modifications may be made without departing fromthe scope and spirit of the present disclosure. Accordingly, thedisclosure is not to be limited by the examples presented herein, but isenvisioned as encompassing the scope described in the appended claimsand the full range of equivalents of the appended claims. The detaileddescription and drawings are merely illustrative of the presentdisclosure rather than limiting, the scope of the present disclosurebeing defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof.

Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have beendescribed herein with regard to specific embodiments. However, thebenefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and elements that may causeany benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronouncedare not to be construed as critical, required, or essential features orelements of the disclosure.

It should be understood that when an element is referred to as being“connected” or “coupled” to another element (or variations thereof), itcan be directly connected or coupled to the other element or interveningelements may be present.

Further, it should be appreciated that in the appended claims, referenceto an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one”unless explicitly so stated, but rather “one or more.”

The description of the disclosure is provided to enable any personskilled in the art to make or use the disclosure. Various modificationsto the disclosure will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art,and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to othervariations without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure.Thus, the disclosure is not intended to be limited to the examples anddesigns described herein but is to be accorded the widest scopeconsistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

The words “illustrative” or “exemplary” are used herein to mean “servingas an example, instance, or illustration.” Any aspect described hereinas “illustrative” or “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed aspreferred or advantageous over other aspects.

As used herein, a phrase referring to “at least one of” a list of itemsrefers to any combination of those items, including single members. Asan example, “at least one of: a, b, or c” is intended to cover: a, b, c,a-b, a-c, b-c, and a-b-c.

The methods disclosed herein comprise one or more steps or actions forachieving the described method. The method steps and/or actions may beinterchanged with one another without departing from the scope of theclaims. In other words, unless a specific order of steps or actions isspecified, the order and/or use of specific steps and/or actions may bemodified without departing from the scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A pump head comprising: a housing defining anaperture about a first axis, the aperture sized and shaped to receive avalve head therein; a movable pin disposed within the housing coaxiallywith the first axis; the movable pin defining a pin notch disposed aboutan exterior circumference of the movable pin; a pin return springcoupled to the movable pin and coaxially with the first axis, the pinreturn spring biasing the movable pin towards the aperture; a firsttaper unit disposed in the housing coaxially with the first axis; asecond taper unit coupled to the pin return spring, the second taperunit disposed in the housing coaxially with the first axis and adjacentto the first taper unit, the second taper unit biased away the firsttaper unit; an elastic taper C-ring disposed between the first andsecond taper units; a lock arm pivotally coupled to the housing, thelock arm configured to press the second taper unit towards the firsttaper unit, thereby compressing the elastic taper C-ringcircumferentially in at least one of two positions, the elastic taperC-ring compressed about the pin notch in the first position and aboutthe valve head in the second position.
 2. The pump head of claim 1,further comprising a grommet disposed between the housing and theaperture.
 3. The pump head of claim 2, wherein the grommet provides asealing engagement around the valve head when inserted into the housing.4. The pump head of claim 3, wherein the grommet is fabricated from acompressible material.
 5. The pump head of claim 1, further comprisingan O-ring between the second taper unit and the housing to provide amovable seal between the second taper unit and the housing.
 6. The pumphead of claim 1, wherein the first taper unit is fixed within thehousing,
 7. The pump head of claim 1, wherein the second taper unitcomprises a guide positioned along the first axis and coupled to thereturn spring.
 8. The pump head of claim 1, further comprising awithdraw spring, wherein the lock arm is biased away from the secondtaper unit.
 9. The pump head of claim 1, wherein the elastic C-ringdefines a first elastic taper C-ring side adjacent the first taper unitand a second elastic taper C-ring side adjacent the second taper unit.10. The pump head of claim 1, wherein the valve head is a Schrader-typeair valve or a Presta-type air valve.
 11. A pump head comprising: ahousing defining an aperture about a first axis, the aperture sized andshaped to receive a valve head therein; a grommet disposed between thehousing and the aperture, the grommet comprising a first portion sizedand shaped to accommodate a Schrader-type valve head and a secondportion sized and shaped to accommodate a Presta-type valve head; amovable pin disposed within the housing coaxially with the first axis;the movable pin defining a pin notch disposed about an exteriorcircumference of the movable pin; a pin return spring coupled to themovable pin and coaxially with the first axis, the pin return springbiasing the movable pin towards the aperture; a first taper unitdisposed in the housing coaxially with the first axis; a second taperunit coupled to the pin return spring, the second taper unit disposed inthe housing coaxially with the first axis and adjacent to the firsttaper unit, the second taper unit biased away the first taper unit; anelastic taper C-ring disposed between the first and second taper units;a lock arm pivotally coupled to the housing, the lock arm configured topress the second taper unit towards the first taper unit, therebycompressing the elastic taper C-ring circumferentially in at least oneof two positions, the elastic taper C-ring compressed about the pinnotch in the first position and about the valve head in the secondposition.
 12. The pump head of claim 11, wherein the movable pin definesa pin head notch configured to engage a pin of the valve head.
 13. Thepump head of claim 11, wherein the grommet provides a sealing engagementaround the valve head when inserted into the housing.
 14. The pump headof claim 13, wherein the grommet is fabricated from a compressiblematerial.
 15. The pump head of claim 11, further comprising an O-ringbetween the second taper unit and the housing to provide a movable sealbetween the second taper unit and the housing.
 16. The pump head ofclaim 11, wherein the first taper unit is fixed within the housing, 17.The pump head of claim 11, wherein the second taper unit comprises aguide positioned along the first axis and coupled to the return spring.18. The pump head of claim 11, further comprising a withdraw spring,wherein the lock arm is biased away from the second taper unit.
 19. Thepump head of claim 11, wherein the elastic C-ring defines a firstelastic taper C-ring side adjacent the first taper unit and a secondelastic taper C-ring side adjacent the second taper unit.
 20. The pumphead of claim 11, wherein the grommet is sized to allow the Presta-typevalve to extend through the first and second portion of the grommet.